(Scene 1)
Phoebe walked into the family room with a tray of ice tea and coffeecake. She smiled as Arnold gently played with Tai.
"I'm sorry for just dropping by." He said.
"No problem. I'm just sorry that neither Helga or Riley told you they be out today." Phoebe smiled as she sat down.
"No big deal. I mean, it's been a week, I don't expect either of them to tell me everything going on in their lives." Arnold shrugged.
Phoebe smiled and watched as Arnold gently bounced Tai up and down. "You're good with kids."
"I am a teacher." Arnold smiled. Phoebe nodded and smiled sheepishly.
"Yes, I knew that. So, you and Helga talk about you know, what this whole thing means?" Arnold looked at the petite woman and sighed, returning his eyes to the baby.
"Actually, I haven't exactly talked to her since she told me about Riley. I think she's avoiding me."
"Eh, I wouldn't blame her." Phoebe said. Arnold looked at her. "Well, I mean… she's dealing with a lot."
"And I'm not?" Phoebe held up her hands in surrender.
"Sorry, sorry." Phoebe said. "She should be home soon, I mean… it is a brunch with her mother and sister."
"Phoebe!" An aggravated voice shouted from the front door.
"See." Phoebe smirked as she got up.
Helga was leaned up against the front door rubbing her temples.
"What's wrong?" Phoebe asked looking over the tired woman.
"Oh god, I swear my sister never changes. I think I tried to stab her with a fork. Do you have anything stronger then a beer in this house?" Helga asked.
Phoebe looked at her, opening her mouth. She slightly shrugged and slowly began shaking her head. Helga stared at her and then put a hand over her forehead.
"Oh jeez, you don't even have beer. I should have gone home with my mother, she would have had beer."
"You have a visitor!" Phoebe said, breaking Helga's train of thought.
"Is it Sid? Good, he'd know a few good places to get a drink."
"It's not exactly Sid." Phoebe said cringing a bit.
"But I do know a good place to get a drink."
Helga looked past Phoebe to Arnold who was smiling. Her baby blue eyes shifted back to Phoebe who shrugged and then offered a half smile.
"Have fun?"
(Scene 2)
Helga looked around the highly decorated room. She looked over at Arnold. "It's not so much a bar as it is a restaurant."
"You'll like it." Arnold smiled.
"Oh, Arnold, how good of you to come! It's been ages!" A man, tall, skinny, with a heavy accent smiled as he embraced Arnold.
"Hi Luke, I need a table for two." Arnold said after the French man let him go.
"Of course! Michelle!" A short woman raced towards Luke, stopping mere inches from him.
"Oui Monsieur?" She said, Helga cringed at the girl's accent.
"Show Arnold and his lovely guest to our best table."
"Oui." She smiled as she glided through the tables and customers. She stopped at a small table in an isolated corner. There was dim lighting, the scent of chocolate, and a candle; Helga sat down looking at Michelle.
"Can I please have a rum and coke?" Helga asked, bordering on begging.
"Sure." The girl turned to Arnold.
"Glass of Rosairo is fine." Arnold smiled as Michelle wandered off. He looked to see Helga staring at him intensely. "What?"
"How does a guy like you, get a table like this?" Helga asked, looking around.
"The owner's son was a student of mine two years ago, he was one of my favorite students. And I guess I was one of his favorite teachers because when I came here they treated me like a king. I just helped him get into his first choice college. His father was pleased." Arnold smiled as Michelle placed down their beverages. He looked at Helga and watched her drink half of her glass down.
"Oh, that felt so good." Helga smiled. Arnold stared at her. "What? I'm not an alcoholic and I quite smoking the day I left for Illinois. But so help me, I need something." She polished off the rest of her drink and gave a gentle sigh.
"Was it as good for you as it was for me?" He joked as he gently sipped his red wine. He smiled as the cool liquor slid down his dry throat.
Helga stared at him and then began looking around the beautiful restaurant. She watched the happy couples and perfect families laugh and talk about their days.
"Are you hungry?" She shook her head.
"Just ate with my mother and sister."
"Right." He nodded.
They sat in silence, Helga averting her eyes, Arnold never taking his off her.
"What?" Helga finally asked looking at him.
"You've been avoiding me." He stated, sipping his wine.
"I have not." Helga said.
"You have so, I haven't seen you since Monday when you told me about Riley."
"So… I've been busy." Helga shrugged.
"With what? You're on vacation." Arnold challenged. Helga opened her mouth but closed it quickly. "See?"
"Oh, shut up." Helga snapped. This, however, did not faze Arnold. "What do you want from me?"
"I guess nothing." Arnold shrugged. "I can't take the mother of my child out for a drink?"
"Cute." Helga said, playing with the ice in her empty glass.
"So, the Firefly Fair starts tomorrow night." Arnold said, still sipping his wine.
"And?" Helga asked. She hadn't been to the fair in eleven years. She was sick the week it was held during junior year, and was in Illinois the end of her senior year.
"Well, I want to take Riley."
"You can take him."
"I also wanted to take you." Arnold said, smiling.
Helga looked at him. "Like… what?"
"Like two parents taking their child to a fair." Arnold smirked as he saw the fireworks erupting from Helga's head.
"Like a family?"
Arnold stopped smiling. He didn't exactly think of it like that. Not at all. He wasn't expecting retaliation. Maybe a simple, "what the hell are you on?" or even "Ha, in your dreams". But not that. Not Family, not her tone of voice, not something that was not Helga.
It was his turned to avert his eyes. Was he ready for family yet?
"I'm sorry… I didn't mean it like that." Helga said shaking her head. She had meant it like that, but it was her premature meaning. She was ready for a family, the idea dwelled on her mind for ten years. Arnold had exposure of a week.
Arnold looked up. "No, I… no. Look, I just thought it be nice. We both spend time with Riley, together."
"I…" Blue eyes crashed dangerously with green eyes. He was so hopeful. She sighed. "Ok."
"Really?" Arnold said, slightly shocked.
"…It'll be… fun."
Famous last words.
(Scene 3)
There were loud noises, children screaming, parents screaming, fair hands shouting into the crowd, rides beeping and singing, it was a mad house.
Helga stretched up. The warm breeze hitting her bare arms. She smiled as Riley came running at her.
"It was SO much fun!" He shouted, hugging her tightly. She looked up to see Arnold and Gerald, slightly green.
"Have fun boys?" She smirked.
"Shush you." Gerald said. Phoebe smiled as she fussed over Tai in his stroller.
"No more roller coasters." Arnold said looking sickly. Helga laughed. Riley was wired, ready and willing to "risk" his life again.
Helga gently pushed a few strands of her hair, that had fallen from her ponytail, off her face. They had been at the fair for over two hours. They had done almost every ride at least twice. Arnold and Gerald both spent at least a hundred dollars trying to win stuffed animals and other fair prizes for the three kids. Riley had not only eaten funnel cake, but a gyro, French fries, chicken strips, pizza, and ice cream. Yet, he was probably holding out better then both Arnold and Gerald, who were still "those young guys".
"So," Phoebe smiled. "What's next?"
Riley looked around and then pointed at the overly large Ferris wheel.
Helga's mouth opened a bit. She wasn't exactly a fan of heights.
"Sounds great." Phoebe said, and began walking over to the Ferris wheel.
"Welcome, welcome." An elderly man greeted the pack. "Two per seat. Well the baby of course counts with the parent."
Riley smiled and turned to his parents. "I'll ride with Lilith."
"Riley I—"
"Great! Riley and Lilith, Gerald, Tai, and me, and Helga and Arnold." Phoebe smiled. Before words could be spoken, Gerald and Phoebe were already getting into the compartment.
"Riley are you sure?" Helga asked. The boy smiled and grabbed Lilith's hand.
"See at the top." He smiled brightly and climbed in with Lilith giggling happily next to him.
"The next happy couple." The elderly man smiled at the two blondes.
"You first." Arnold whispered.
Helga looked at him and climbed in. Arnold sat next to her and watched the ground grow farther away as they went towards the sky.
They stopped at various intervals, until finally reach the top.
"Wow," Arnold smiled.
Helga looked down; they were high, very, very high. She quickly closed her eyes and grabbed on to the first thing she could find.
Arnold's hand.
"Scared?" Her eyes stayed shut tightly.
"I don't like heights." Helga mumbled.
"Ok." Arnold gave her hand a small squeeze. "Well let's take your mind off of it."
"How?"
"Open your eyes." Helga opened her eyes slightly. "Look at me."
She turned and looked at him. "This is suppose to help because?"
"If you're looking at me, you can't be looking at the ground. If your not looking at the ground, no height problem."
"Your logic is crude." Helga said, but found herself smiling. "I hate you."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Arnold smiled.
"Riley's having a great time, I don't think I've ever seen him so happy." Helga smiled.
"He's a great kid, you raised him wonderfully."
"Thank you." She smiled. She looked down, noticing their hands were entwined together. She looked up and gently un-weaved her hand from his. "I'm sorry you had to miss so much."
Arnold smiled slightly and shook his head. "It's ok."
They began moving, slowly. They sat and watched as the fire works show started off near the pier.
"It's beautiful." Helga smiled. Arnold nodded and looked at her.
"It is." He smiled. He gently took her hand in his again and turned back to the firework show.
Helga looked at him. "What…?"
"I'm scared of heights." He smiled, never shifting his eyes.
Helga couldn't help but smile.
"Helga! Come on!" Arnold shouted as Helga raced to gather her things.
Why did she volunteer to do backstage work for their eighth grade play? She ran on the stage, glaring heavily at Arnold.
"Jeez Arnoldo. Stop acting like you're the star of the play!" She helped him put on his jacket.
"I'm the lead." Arnold stated dryly.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Helga mumbled as she took a step back.
The jacket was a little big, but it should be fine for the play. All she had to do now was worry about Lila's costume and the props. Damn Mr. Simmons for using the guilt trip on her.
"So…" He said, as she circled him like a hawk.
"Do you feel comfortable? It's a little big, but not bad enough where we have to ship it off to be fitted." Helga said, stopping in front of him.
"Yeah, it's pretty comfortable. Did you make it?"
"Ha." Helga said, walking a few feet away to the desk they had set up. "Sheena did, she has some inane ability to be creative in the clothing department."
"She did a great job." Arnold said looking at the sleeves and feeling the silky fabric on the inside of the jacket.
"Uh huh." Helga said. He figured she was ignoring him or had blocked him out completely.
"So… I heard you tried out for the lead." Arnold stated.
"Yeah, Phoebe dared me too. Besides Sid swore he was going to get the part of Leopold." Helga stated not looking up.
"You would have made a good Kate." Arnold smiled.
"I'm sure I would have, lucky me though, I get to do all the background glamour." Helga said, eyes still casted downward.
"Well, you are creative and have a knack for taking charge." Helga finally looked up, glaring at Arnold with every ounce of bitterness she had.
"Why are you tell me all this? What could you possibly want from me?"
"Nothing, nothing at all." Arnold taking a step back. Helga's eyes began to bore into him.
"You are lying." Helga said. Her voice sharp and clear.
"Heh." Arnold continued backing away. "Seriously, nothing, I was just trying to be nice."
"Cut. It. Out." Helga said, casting her eyes back at the various papers strewn on the desk.
"Someone's grouchy." Arnold said, gently taking off the jacket.
"Someone's about to die." Helga said with the same tone as Arnold.
He looked at her, glaring slightly. "What's your problem?"
Helga looked at him, and then began walking behind the curtain. "You."
"That girl… I swear…" Arnold said walking over to desk. He looked at the various papers. Extra scripts, costume designs, various changes and non-changes made to the script, he looked from one page to the next.
"Hello Arnold." He looked up and smiled as the girl with the red hair and freckles walked up the stage. "How are you?"
"Great!" He smiled. Lila nodded and then looked at his jacket.
"Is that your costume? It's ever-so-nice." She smiled sweetly.
"Thank you Lila." Arnold said blushing.
"Oh jeez." The two turned to see Helga walking from behind the curtain holding a clipboard. "Lila your costumes are in your dressing room along with Sheena and Rhonda, please go try them on so the two of them can make various adjustments."
"Ok Helga. Thank you ever so much for going through all this trouble." Helga looked at her sweet smile and felt instantly nausea.
"Whatever Lila, whatever." Helga waved her off. Lila bounced behind the curtain and disappeared.
"I can't wait till this play gets running. There's a make out scene." Arnold smiled widely. Helga looked at him, glaring.
"Get off my stage."
"You really have to be nicer."
"No, I really don't." Helga said, sitting down. "Look I have a lot to do, ok? I'll see you tomorrow at rehearsals."
"Fine." Arnold gently placed his jacket on the desk and began walking down the stairs. He turned around and stared at Helga. "Am I ever going to understand you?"
She looked up and stared at him. She sighed and then looked back down at her clipboard and the desk.
"Probably not."
Arnold let go of her hand as they stepped off the Ferris wheel. Riley jumped over to them smiling.
"Can we go on again?!"
(Scene 4)
Arnold smiled as he laid Riley down on the bed in the guest bedroom. He smiled as he pushed some of the boy's blonde hair off his forehead.
"Thanks." Helga smiled as she walked Arnold to the front door.
"Yeah, no problem. You mind if I take him bowling with the guys tomorrow?"
"No problem." Helga smiled as Arnold waved good bye. She shook her head as she leaned against the front door.
"Do I sense some forbidden magic?" Phoebe said as she walked down the stairs.
"No, because there is no forbidden magic left for him." Helga said following her into the kitchen.
Phoebe pulled out a bottle and looked over at Helga. "You never know Helga, he was your first love."
"He was my first unrequited love."
"He's been your only love." Phoebe countered.
Helga closed her mouth and then sighed. "What are you getting at?"
"You have two more weeks before you go back to Chicago."
"So?"
"Have you even thought about what you and Arnold are going to do?" Phoebe asked, heating the bottle up.
Helga placed her hand on her cheek and watched as Phoebe moved around the kitchen.
"I don't know."
"Maybe you two should talk about it." Phoebe said.
"No." Helga said.
"Why?"
"Because that means he's officially back into my life." Helga said, staring at the kitchen table. She heard Phoebe sigh.
"I hate to burst your bubble but he's already officially back in your life." Phoebe said turning around and walking back upstairs.
Helga sighed. "Yeah, I know."